often while doing taekwondo, random one-liners and quotes are said. while thinking about them the other day, i realized that they might help someone. following are a few of these quotables. i won't explain them. if they are for you, they'll leap off the page.
"if anything, don't back down. at the end of the day what might count the most in a sparring match is that you stood your ground and tried."
"single kicks don't score. combinations do. each move sets up the next."
"whatever happens, move forward. you are the safest when you are moving forward."
"go through your target. don't stop short. displace it."
"whoever can remain calm and execute while under the most pressure will be the winner."
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Morning Devotional Poster
The morning devotional poster.
we like the morning devotional poster. we really, really do. they do their best to make sure our lives are filled with god's word and instruction every morning.
and we do mean EVERY morning. if the best part of waking up is folgers, then the best part of turning on our computer is the encouraging word we'll get from the poster.
a little bit of history first. the morning devotional poster evolved from the morning devotional email forwarder. this was a very good thing, as most of the world didn't like the morning devotional email forwarder. in a rare act of evolution, this type of poster became one of our most beloved. it's like a venus fly trap that evolved into a cute puppy that doesn't pee on the floor.
like clockwork, the morning devotional poster's facebook, twitter, and google buzz will have an inspirational article posted no later than 9:45am (if they are really savvy they'll use hootsuite to do it all at once). this is perfect, because most people that get to the office at 9 don't really start working until 10. conveintent on SO many levels.
you know how else the morning devotional poster helps us out? they save us money! somehow they've managed to subscribe to 12 devotional services, and after reading them all, they only posted the one that would help us all the most. do you know what that means? i don't have to buy any more copies of oswald chambers...EVER! one of the morning devotional posters will certain post his entire body of work in the span of a year. and you'll probably quote the key theme or sentence in the devotional when you update your status, so we REALLY get the point of it! god's word quick, fast, and in a hurry. we love it.
if you have a number of morning devotional posters that you follow, you may even pick your favorite ones to read. there are many variations of the this type of poster. there's the "everything will be okay" poster, "the love and relationship" poster, and the "gut check" poster. the least favorite variation of the morning devo poster is of the "repent now or else" variety. we like them because they help start our morning off right, reminding us of the severity of god, but they are dangerously close to the doomsday poster (we'll be discussing them later).
are you a morning devotional poster? if you are, just know that we love you!
we like the morning devotional poster. we really, really do. they do their best to make sure our lives are filled with god's word and instruction every morning.
and we do mean EVERY morning. if the best part of waking up is folgers, then the best part of turning on our computer is the encouraging word we'll get from the poster.
a little bit of history first. the morning devotional poster evolved from the morning devotional email forwarder. this was a very good thing, as most of the world didn't like the morning devotional email forwarder. in a rare act of evolution, this type of poster became one of our most beloved. it's like a venus fly trap that evolved into a cute puppy that doesn't pee on the floor.
like clockwork, the morning devotional poster's facebook, twitter, and google buzz will have an inspirational article posted no later than 9:45am (if they are really savvy they'll use hootsuite to do it all at once). this is perfect, because most people that get to the office at 9 don't really start working until 10. conveintent on SO many levels.
you know how else the morning devotional poster helps us out? they save us money! somehow they've managed to subscribe to 12 devotional services, and after reading them all, they only posted the one that would help us all the most. do you know what that means? i don't have to buy any more copies of oswald chambers...EVER! one of the morning devotional posters will certain post his entire body of work in the span of a year. and you'll probably quote the key theme or sentence in the devotional when you update your status, so we REALLY get the point of it! god's word quick, fast, and in a hurry. we love it.
if you have a number of morning devotional posters that you follow, you may even pick your favorite ones to read. there are many variations of the this type of poster. there's the "everything will be okay" poster, "the love and relationship" poster, and the "gut check" poster. the least favorite variation of the morning devo poster is of the "repent now or else" variety. we like them because they help start our morning off right, reminding us of the severity of god, but they are dangerously close to the doomsday poster (we'll be discussing them later).
are you a morning devotional poster? if you are, just know that we love you!
Monday, August 8, 2011
I found a hill...
last time i went to run a mile, i found a hill.
i was very excited by this hill. i knew that this hill would be helpful in training for the upcoming taekwondo season in a few weeks. i decided that i would tackle the hill next early the following week.
today, i did just that. i ran a mile, and then went to the foot of the hill. it was at the foot of this hill that my excitement was exchanged with fear. there were a few reasons for this:
once i reached the top a new challenge appeared to me. i had to peddle down the hill while controlling myself. i also made yet another discovery about the hill: holes. there were places that were sunken in, or even a little muddy. if my foot caught any of those, i certainly would've tripped and rolled 20 feet to the bottom of the hill.
i did this several times. with each time my legs protested more violently. still deep down inside i knew that this was a challenge i had to endure. this hill represented fear. i was honestly scared. it also represented opportunity. one of my favorite tennis players, andre agassi, took to the hills in las vegas when he was training. it helped him win several majors.
i don't believe that dreams are born when we sleep or daydream. that's like saying that a baby is born just because you'd like to be a parent. i believe dreams are born when you make the effort to create what you've visualized in a tangible way.
similarly, champions aren't born. they are made. plenty of people are willing to win. most of them are willing to prepare. this hill represents the willingness to train, hone, perfect. it's a private battle between myself and i. the most intense battle, actually. no matter how hard i hit him he's always there. and he knows just what to say and do to throw me off my game. people usually don't see this battle, but it's the most important one.
any victory that i've had has been because i managed to subdue myself just enough to so that i be everything that i know is possible.
private victories -----> public displays.
 |
| this is where dreams are born and champions are made... |
i was very excited by this hill. i knew that this hill would be helpful in training for the upcoming taekwondo season in a few weeks. i decided that i would tackle the hill next early the following week.
today, i did just that. i ran a mile, and then went to the foot of the hill. it was at the foot of this hill that my excitement was exchanged with fear. there were a few reasons for this:
- the hill was bigger than i thought. i'm not crazy about heights.
- i was tired. i was concerned if i could actually do it without falling over.
- i have trouble picking up my feet sometimes, which makes training like this difficult.
once i reached the top a new challenge appeared to me. i had to peddle down the hill while controlling myself. i also made yet another discovery about the hill: holes. there were places that were sunken in, or even a little muddy. if my foot caught any of those, i certainly would've tripped and rolled 20 feet to the bottom of the hill.
i did this several times. with each time my legs protested more violently. still deep down inside i knew that this was a challenge i had to endure. this hill represented fear. i was honestly scared. it also represented opportunity. one of my favorite tennis players, andre agassi, took to the hills in las vegas when he was training. it helped him win several majors.
i don't believe that dreams are born when we sleep or daydream. that's like saying that a baby is born just because you'd like to be a parent. i believe dreams are born when you make the effort to create what you've visualized in a tangible way.
similarly, champions aren't born. they are made. plenty of people are willing to win. most of them are willing to prepare. this hill represents the willingness to train, hone, perfect. it's a private battle between myself and i. the most intense battle, actually. no matter how hard i hit him he's always there. and he knows just what to say and do to throw me off my game. people usually don't see this battle, but it's the most important one.
any victory that i've had has been because i managed to subdue myself just enough to so that i be everything that i know is possible.
private victories -----> public displays.
Monday, August 1, 2011
what we DON'T want to see from the new Thundercats
thunder! THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDERCATS...HOOO!!!
okay, now that i've gotten that out of my system, i want to talk about the new thundercats cartoon that just came on. if you were a product of the 80s, you must've heard about this show at some point. y'know, cat-like humans, evil mummy, sword that can do EVERYTHING. oh, and the same battle cry. every show. every FLIPPING show. #butweloveditso
anywhos, the revamped show got a lot of positive feedback. for the most part, it stayed true to the original while adding much needed updates.
with that being said, there are still some things that we just don't want to see. here's my list of them:
1. CHEESE
we honestly don't want to see cheesy storylines. those worked in the 80s. it was a simpler time, a time without terrorist attacks and debt ceiling fiascoes. plus, we were in elementary show so any bright light was entertaining. that won't work now. judging by the first episode, you guys seem to taking a darker approach. that's good! keep up the good work. and we know that you'll have to do something for the younger kids that are watching, just don't make it too unbearable.
what you did with snarf is a good example. you kept him in, but you made him WAY less annoying. i actually like this snarf better. good job. use that mindset when updating and writing future stories.
2. a grown up lion-o
this may be controversial, especially since the lion-o we know and love was an adult when we first met him. however, that was because he aged while in the capsule traveling to earth. and in this version, it makes sense that lion-o isn't grown up (i'd have to give away a major plot point to tell you why, but it does). quite honestly, it's awkward watching a 20 year old act like a 12-year-old in real life. why would we want to do it for entertainment? let lion-o grow up naturally. also, we're sure that this young lion-o filled with angst and tension would be a great draw to the twilight crowd. young almost human person struggling with life and love? i can see the 12-book series being written up already.
3. you don't have to do the "ho" thing every episode
okay, we know this is the part that we all know and love about thundercats. but the truth is that we don't need to see it every single episode. really, we don't. we get it. the sword grows, it calls the thundercats together. they win. show over.
that works for 5-year-olds. not anymore. lets explore what else the sword can do. and don't make the sword a fix-all. make it very powerful, sure. but please make the sword's power levels a little below god. thanks.
and for you folks that may not have been able to see some of the episode, here's a clip. don't worry, it doesn't give too much away.
oh, and just because we don't want to see it every episode, doesn't mean that this isn't cool :-) compare the two versions and see which one you like best.
okay, now that i've gotten that out of my system, i want to talk about the new thundercats cartoon that just came on. if you were a product of the 80s, you must've heard about this show at some point. y'know, cat-like humans, evil mummy, sword that can do EVERYTHING. oh, and the same battle cry. every show. every FLIPPING show. #butweloveditso
anywhos, the revamped show got a lot of positive feedback. for the most part, it stayed true to the original while adding much needed updates.
with that being said, there are still some things that we just don't want to see. here's my list of them:
1. CHEESE
we honestly don't want to see cheesy storylines. those worked in the 80s. it was a simpler time, a time without terrorist attacks and debt ceiling fiascoes. plus, we were in elementary show so any bright light was entertaining. that won't work now. judging by the first episode, you guys seem to taking a darker approach. that's good! keep up the good work. and we know that you'll have to do something for the younger kids that are watching, just don't make it too unbearable.
what you did with snarf is a good example. you kept him in, but you made him WAY less annoying. i actually like this snarf better. good job. use that mindset when updating and writing future stories.
2. a grown up lion-o
this may be controversial, especially since the lion-o we know and love was an adult when we first met him. however, that was because he aged while in the capsule traveling to earth. and in this version, it makes sense that lion-o isn't grown up (i'd have to give away a major plot point to tell you why, but it does). quite honestly, it's awkward watching a 20 year old act like a 12-year-old in real life. why would we want to do it for entertainment? let lion-o grow up naturally. also, we're sure that this young lion-o filled with angst and tension would be a great draw to the twilight crowd. young almost human person struggling with life and love? i can see the 12-book series being written up already.
3. you don't have to do the "ho" thing every episode
okay, we know this is the part that we all know and love about thundercats. but the truth is that we don't need to see it every single episode. really, we don't. we get it. the sword grows, it calls the thundercats together. they win. show over.
that works for 5-year-olds. not anymore. lets explore what else the sword can do. and don't make the sword a fix-all. make it very powerful, sure. but please make the sword's power levels a little below god. thanks.
and for you folks that may not have been able to see some of the episode, here's a clip. don't worry, it doesn't give too much away.
oh, and just because we don't want to see it every episode, doesn't mean that this isn't cool :-) compare the two versions and see which one you like best.
Monday, July 25, 2011
My Facebook Newsfeed Makes Me Wonder...
at times, my facebook wall brings me joy.
i love seeing all of the things my friends are into. the pictures from their trips. the funny videos from youtube.
other times, facebook annoys me. it especially annoys me when i see how christians use it at times.
i graduated from rutgers university with a degree in journalism, so i'm totally with the whole free speech thing. my thought is, if you don't like what someone is saying, ignore them. we shouldn't be hurtful, but your facebook profile, your twitter timeline, etc., is yours. say what you want, just be willing to deal with the consequences later.
but, like paul wrote centuries ago, just because you can do something doesn't mean it's the best thing to do.
i wonder how helpful statuses calling out sinners and saying that this celebrity is in this secret society and this one worships the devil.
i wonder how helpful it is tocriticize and degrade ask other ministries about their ministry practices all over your status? and then write a prayer asking god to help them see the "light" (and of course, the light looks a lot like their own personal opinions and views).
i wonder how helpful it is to fire darts from a facebook status.
i honestly don't think it's helpful at all. it's not about people changing their opinions, it's about demonstrating them in a way that healthy and helpful. at times i think there is a secret verse in the bible that says, "thou shall say my word in the most offensive, obtuse, blunt way that you can think of, so then people won't like you and you can call it persecution!"
i wonder if people will realize that you don't have to do that.
perhaps i should be the change that i want to see.
i love seeing all of the things my friends are into. the pictures from their trips. the funny videos from youtube.
other times, facebook annoys me. it especially annoys me when i see how christians use it at times.
i graduated from rutgers university with a degree in journalism, so i'm totally with the whole free speech thing. my thought is, if you don't like what someone is saying, ignore them. we shouldn't be hurtful, but your facebook profile, your twitter timeline, etc., is yours. say what you want, just be willing to deal with the consequences later.
but, like paul wrote centuries ago, just because you can do something doesn't mean it's the best thing to do.
i wonder how helpful statuses calling out sinners and saying that this celebrity is in this secret society and this one worships the devil.
i wonder how helpful it is to
i wonder how helpful it is to fire darts from a facebook status.
i honestly don't think it's helpful at all. it's not about people changing their opinions, it's about demonstrating them in a way that healthy and helpful. at times i think there is a secret verse in the bible that says, "thou shall say my word in the most offensive, obtuse, blunt way that you can think of, so then people won't like you and you can call it persecution!"
i wonder if people will realize that you don't have to do that.
perhaps i should be the change that i want to see.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Dell's Not Getting In List
you ever heard the phrase, "you don't have a heaven or a hell to put me in"?
well, apparently, that's not true. as i scroll up and down my facebook newsfeed or my twitter timeline i see lots of declarations about who is going where. these people are sinners. they need to get it together, that's not the real gospel, etc., etc.
maybe god gave some folks a pass to start throwing people into the fiery furnace before time. i don't know. i didn't get a memo so i'm a little hurt. *stops typing and begins to sob*
anyways, i've decided to join the fun myself. these are the people and things that, if i had my little way, would not get into the pearly gates. i wouldn't throw them into hell. there wouldn't be a hell. i don't like heat, lol. they would just occupy a lower level of heaven.
what you'll also notice is that everyone who wouldn't get all of my version of heaven are people and things that personally annoy me. only the sins that bother me the most would get ultimately cast out...
...someone will catch that tomorrow. let me know when you do!
anyways, in the spirit of fun (kind of), here's my list:
Dell's Not Getting In List
1. whoever decided to put that mesh lining in swim trunks
2. old ladies that write checks at supermarkets
3. heatwaves
4. whoever wrote the last season of Heroes
5. people who are chronically late
6. anyone that has a mohawk and/or neck tattoo that isn't in the rap game
7. stinkbugs
8. MD 295 (anyone from the DMV will understand)
9. Benning Road in Washington, DC
10. Coogi sweaters
11. Fubu tshirts
12. Karl Kani Jeans
(numbers 9 -12 i consider zombies because they are dead clothing styles yet they are still roaming the earth)
13. columbus day
(disclaimer: because i know that someone out there won't get it...i'll just make it plain. I'M KIDDING. this list is a joke.)
there, i think that's it. if you had a personal heaven, what would you put in it? and what would you keep out?
well, apparently, that's not true. as i scroll up and down my facebook newsfeed or my twitter timeline i see lots of declarations about who is going where. these people are sinners. they need to get it together, that's not the real gospel, etc., etc.
maybe god gave some folks a pass to start throwing people into the fiery furnace before time. i don't know. i didn't get a memo so i'm a little hurt. *stops typing and begins to sob*
anyways, i've decided to join the fun myself. these are the people and things that, if i had my little way, would not get into the pearly gates. i wouldn't throw them into hell. there wouldn't be a hell. i don't like heat, lol. they would just occupy a lower level of heaven.
what you'll also notice is that everyone who wouldn't get all of my version of heaven are people and things that personally annoy me. only the sins that bother me the most would get ultimately cast out...
...someone will catch that tomorrow. let me know when you do!
anyways, in the spirit of fun (kind of), here's my list:
Dell's Not Getting In List
1. whoever decided to put that mesh lining in swim trunks
2. old ladies that write checks at supermarkets
3. heatwaves
4. whoever wrote the last season of Heroes
5. people who are chronically late
6. anyone that has a mohawk and/or neck tattoo that isn't in the rap game
7. stinkbugs
8. MD 295 (anyone from the DMV will understand)
9. Benning Road in Washington, DC
10. Coogi sweaters
11. Fubu tshirts
12. Karl Kani Jeans
(numbers 9 -12 i consider zombies because they are dead clothing styles yet they are still roaming the earth)
13. columbus day
(disclaimer: because i know that someone out there won't get it...i'll just make it plain. I'M KIDDING. this list is a joke.)
there, i think that's it. if you had a personal heaven, what would you put in it? and what would you keep out?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Bible Study Tips: The Verdell Version!
so...this blog was like 12 light years in the making. a good friend of mine asked if i would detail what i use to study the bible. i said, "sure. i'll do one soon."
since i'm so spiritual, meant soon in the whole "jesus is coming in 2,000 years" soon. so i waited, and waited, and waited some more.
bible studying was one of my first joys as a young christian. i always liked to read, and since the bible is god's word, i figured i should know it front to back. as i entered divinity school, some old tools were reinforced and others where learned. allow me to share:
READING COMPREHENSION
a lot of errors in bible study can be avoided by simply reading the bible like you would any other book. i do my best to come to the word clear and free from my own thoughts, ideas, and biases. now, clearly i believe it's the word of god so there's a bias right there. you can't totally avoid bias, but you can be aware that it's present. that way, you can put it aside when necessary.
just read it like a book. put aside the ideas that your pastor, grandmother, etc. have told you. doesn't mean those ideas all are wrong. putting them aside gives you the chance to encounter those ideas for yourself. read like you would for school. too many people read and insert what they were already told about a scripture. or they just read it to confirm what they already think (you can do that for almost anything).
RESOURCES
The best resource i have on how to read the bible is a book called "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth." it's written by Gordon Fee (a top new testament scholar) and Douglas Stuart (a top old testament scholar). these two gentlemen are top-notch scholars AND devout believers. it's a great jumping on point for someone that wants to learn how to read more precisely.
i've learned a lot from this book. honestly, you can just stop reading my blog and go by the book. seriously. go. NOW. i'll be here when you're finished.
welcome back!
in terms of bibles, my main bible is the New English Translation. i love it because of the extensive translation notes that exist online. however, for studying particular passages of scripture i like to have several versions that i know in advance will read differently. that way i can see what's going on and compare translation choices and wording. that might be a little offputting to someone that doesn't know about bible translation, but don't let the differences bother you. you'll find good explanations in the book i recommended.
my go to bibles are the updated NIV, NET, New American Standard Version, and New Living Translation. i honestly NEVER use KJV or NKJV anymore. too many issues, and frankly, there are better translations now. you don't have to use the NSRV (some people believe that there is a liberal bias). i do for school, but nothing else really. and from what i've read, there's nothing in there that makes a big difference. i strongly urge people not to use it simply because it's difficult to read. especially if reading isn't a hobby of yours, you can find other great translations that are easier to read.
ultimately, the best thing is to be able to read in hebrew and greek. but most people won't be in a position to do that. rest assured that there are a lot of good translations out there.
TIPS AND TRICKS
i pretend like the chapter numbers and verses aren't there. those were a later addition. however, in our minds we can separate important parts of scripture and lose the important parts of context. try it and i'm sure you'll discover new meanings for situations that you didn't notice before.
i love commentaries. however, i NEVER use them until i've read the text thoroughly myself. i read the text first and see what comes out. THEN i look for commentaries. but honestly, be careful which commentaries you use. if all you have is the matthew henry's commentary...please get more. a lot of popular commentaries out there are built off of secondary info...which may not be correct. lean toward the ones composed by bonafide scholars. if you are studying a particular book, get several good commentaries on it.
a text can't mean something that it never meant! content and context are two of the most important things that will help your understanding. granted, some things we will never be able to fully figure out. however, we can get pretty close. especially for the things that matter most. one this is sure...on the most important matters of faith, particularly in the new testament, the authors wanted to be clear.
this can be confusing if you're using to reading a scripture and going, "this is what god told me from it." while i don't negate that at all, it can damage the text and distort its meaning. i believe that when we read the bible in a devotional way, we create an opportunity for god to speak. because god isn't a theologian, i don't think he cares about the stuff that we're discussing (in my opinion, theology, just like science, are our attempts to figure out what god is doing and has done). all he knows is that he has your captive attention, so he'll talk to you in a way and environment that you're comfortable in. let's assume that it's very much god's word to you.
emphasis on: TO YOU.
however, if it never meant that to anyone else, especially the people that received it first, you can't pass off what you heard in your prayer closet as god's infallible word. (keep in mind that god's eternal word emerged in a particular context with a particular group of people with a particular culture. it was written FIRST so they could understand it). YOU go live that word out...but that isn't something we should base our lives around.
well, there you go! i hope this was helpful to someone. if you have any specific questions (not rude comments because i hate those), leave them as a comment. i might make it into another blog post.
since i'm so spiritual, meant soon in the whole "jesus is coming in 2,000 years" soon. so i waited, and waited, and waited some more.
bible studying was one of my first joys as a young christian. i always liked to read, and since the bible is god's word, i figured i should know it front to back. as i entered divinity school, some old tools were reinforced and others where learned. allow me to share:
READING COMPREHENSION
a lot of errors in bible study can be avoided by simply reading the bible like you would any other book. i do my best to come to the word clear and free from my own thoughts, ideas, and biases. now, clearly i believe it's the word of god so there's a bias right there. you can't totally avoid bias, but you can be aware that it's present. that way, you can put it aside when necessary.
just read it like a book. put aside the ideas that your pastor, grandmother, etc. have told you. doesn't mean those ideas all are wrong. putting them aside gives you the chance to encounter those ideas for yourself. read like you would for school. too many people read and insert what they were already told about a scripture. or they just read it to confirm what they already think (you can do that for almost anything).
RESOURCES
The best resource i have on how to read the bible is a book called "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth." it's written by Gordon Fee (a top new testament scholar) and Douglas Stuart (a top old testament scholar). these two gentlemen are top-notch scholars AND devout believers. it's a great jumping on point for someone that wants to learn how to read more precisely.
i've learned a lot from this book. honestly, you can just stop reading my blog and go by the book. seriously. go. NOW. i'll be here when you're finished.
welcome back!
in terms of bibles, my main bible is the New English Translation. i love it because of the extensive translation notes that exist online. however, for studying particular passages of scripture i like to have several versions that i know in advance will read differently. that way i can see what's going on and compare translation choices and wording. that might be a little offputting to someone that doesn't know about bible translation, but don't let the differences bother you. you'll find good explanations in the book i recommended.
my go to bibles are the updated NIV, NET, New American Standard Version, and New Living Translation. i honestly NEVER use KJV or NKJV anymore. too many issues, and frankly, there are better translations now. you don't have to use the NSRV (some people believe that there is a liberal bias). i do for school, but nothing else really. and from what i've read, there's nothing in there that makes a big difference. i strongly urge people not to use it simply because it's difficult to read. especially if reading isn't a hobby of yours, you can find other great translations that are easier to read.
ultimately, the best thing is to be able to read in hebrew and greek. but most people won't be in a position to do that. rest assured that there are a lot of good translations out there.
TIPS AND TRICKS
i pretend like the chapter numbers and verses aren't there. those were a later addition. however, in our minds we can separate important parts of scripture and lose the important parts of context. try it and i'm sure you'll discover new meanings for situations that you didn't notice before.
i love commentaries. however, i NEVER use them until i've read the text thoroughly myself. i read the text first and see what comes out. THEN i look for commentaries. but honestly, be careful which commentaries you use. if all you have is the matthew henry's commentary...please get more. a lot of popular commentaries out there are built off of secondary info...which may not be correct. lean toward the ones composed by bonafide scholars. if you are studying a particular book, get several good commentaries on it.
a text can't mean something that it never meant! content and context are two of the most important things that will help your understanding. granted, some things we will never be able to fully figure out. however, we can get pretty close. especially for the things that matter most. one this is sure...on the most important matters of faith, particularly in the new testament, the authors wanted to be clear.
this can be confusing if you're using to reading a scripture and going, "this is what god told me from it." while i don't negate that at all, it can damage the text and distort its meaning. i believe that when we read the bible in a devotional way, we create an opportunity for god to speak. because god isn't a theologian, i don't think he cares about the stuff that we're discussing (in my opinion, theology, just like science, are our attempts to figure out what god is doing and has done). all he knows is that he has your captive attention, so he'll talk to you in a way and environment that you're comfortable in. let's assume that it's very much god's word to you.
emphasis on: TO YOU.
however, if it never meant that to anyone else, especially the people that received it first, you can't pass off what you heard in your prayer closet as god's infallible word. (keep in mind that god's eternal word emerged in a particular context with a particular group of people with a particular culture. it was written FIRST so they could understand it). YOU go live that word out...but that isn't something we should base our lives around.
well, there you go! i hope this was helpful to someone. if you have any specific questions (not rude comments because i hate those), leave them as a comment. i might make it into another blog post.
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